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Presidential Speeches University Archives

4-17-1974 Introduction of Guest Speaker William Ruckelshaus, delivered on April 17, 1974 Arend D. Lubbers Grand Valley State University

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Recommended Citation Lubbers, Arend D., "Introduction of Guest Speaker William Ruckelshaus, delivered on April 17, 1974" (1974). Presidential Speeches. 34. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/presidential_speeches/34

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Introduction of William Ruckelshaus

Guest Speaker at GVSC

April 17, 1974

by Arend D. Lubbers

Throughout history there have been historic massacres. In our country the

most recent is known as the . It occurred on

October 20, 1973, and it involved a relatively small number of people.

Fortunately, it was not literally bloody, it was historic. Our speaker was

one of the victims. There is a difference between this massacre and others,

however, as the dust settles and time passes, it appears that the victims

"got the better part of the deal. " Many of the world's massacred have

gone to their fate because of values and principle. The same is true about

our speaker, William D. Ruckelshaus. That is one of the reasons why he

has earned the nation's respect.

There is another incongruity about Mr. Ruckelshaus' career, in addition to

being a winner victim. His vita shows that he held three jobs within a

three-year period, hardly a recommendation to a prospective employer. From

1970 to 1973, he was Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Acting Director of the FBI, and Deputy Attorney General, until he was

fired from that position. Again, the apparent is not true. He brought intelligence,

accomplishment, and dignity to all three positions, and in the first of these

established an international reputation. One that will make a place for him

in history as an early leader in the struggle to save the planet for life and

beauty. In his last government job he performed well and its abrupt termination ,/ .. , f _,,(,, /./ ;/'/() I ~-r', t·· Page 2 "''

reflects more unfavorably on the firee than the fireor.

In his home state of he was Deputy Attorney General, and majority

leader in the Indiana House of Representatives. In an exciting, close, U.S.

Senate race he lost to incumbent . Before becoming EPA Administrator,

he was Assistant Attorney General of the U.S., functioning as head of the

Civil Division of the Department of Justice.

You can see that Mr. Ruckelshaus' successes and contributions to society are

impressive and his few defeats dramatic to say the least. Even as an occasional

loser he comes out a winner. We are pleased that William James College has

brought Mr. Ruckelshaus to campus to address us and officially open the

exciting Documerica Exhibit in this building. We are honored by his presence.